Tallahassee Police officers can pursue vehicles if they suspect a violent felony

A man who saw Tuesday evening's high-speed police pursuit describes the crash that left the driver of the suspect vehicle dead.
Jeff Burlew/Democrat

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TPD’s policy, updated a year ago, indicates that officers are authorized to pursue suspects’ vehicles only if there is a reasonable belief a suspect in the vehicle has committed a violent felony. Aggravated assault, battery, child abuse, kidnapping, manslaughter, murder, robbery, sexual battery and vehicular homicide are among the felony crimes a chase can stem from.(Photo: Democrat files)Buy Photo

Tallahassee police officers are authorized to pursue suspects’ vehicles only if there is a reasonable belief a suspect in the vehicle has committed a violent felony, according to the department's policy updated a year ago.

Aggravated assault, battery, child abuse, kidnapping, manslaughter, murder, robbery, sexual battery and vehicular homicide are among the felony crimes that should prompt a chase. After officers begin a pursuit, it must be approved by upper command but not one who is involved in the chase.

On Tuesday evening, TPD responded to the Red Roof Inn on North Monroe Street for what investigators say was a weapons call. Jerrod Shamburger, 34, a habitual traffic offender with a suspended license, but no prior violent felony charges in Leon County, reportedly almost ran down two pedestrians, then led police on a chase that ended with a crash downtown. Shamburger died later at a local hospital.

TPD spokesman Damon Miller said he could not comment on the nature of the initial 911 call, except that it was for weapons. He also could not say whether Shamburger was staying at the hotel or whether weapons were found in the vehicle following the chase. The man's criminal record in Leon County dates back to 2002 and includes charges of drugs, traffic violations and giving a false name to law enforcement.

A number of factors go into the decision to pursue a vehicle, according to the 21-page TPD policy updated March 2017.

They include the seriousness of the offense prior to a chase, likelihood of successfully capturing the suspect, the safety of motorists and others in the area, road conditions and vehicle speeds and the possibility of identifying and capture of suspects later.

In 2015, the Police Executive Research Forum recommended members of TPD’s Internal Affairs Unit be briefed quarterly on vehicle pursuits and use of force to determine if policies, tactics, training or equipment needed to be upgraded.

In 2015, Leon County ranked 9th in the state in police pursuit-related deaths, according to data from the nation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The data looked at traffic fatalities from 1979 to 2013.

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.